WITH THE MOUNTEDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16497, 24 March 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

WITH THE MOUNTEDS.

■♦ IN EGYPT. The desert column's victory at Rafa was unquestionably one of the finest achievements in Egypt during the war. By a swift 30 miles cross-country night march our mounted troops got within striking distance while the enemy still slept, says a' Daily Telegraph correspondent at Ei Arish. The boldness of their attack on the elaborate system of defences enabled them at the. end'of an all-day battle absolutely to overwhelm the Turks and Germans, .whose hopes were fortified by the knowledge that their,large reinforcements were within three miles of Rafa, and who fought with desperation to stave off defeat until succour arrived. But, as darkness was closing in, by a supreme effort our force occupied the trenches, and as the enemy was completely surrounded his surrender was inevitable. Two relief columns, amounting to about 3000 infantry,, were driven back to their bases. 1 '.- ■ .The fight, though under new conditions of warfare, more nearly resembled the battles of a generation ago than anything seen in this war. Many phases of the action could be witnessed from one spot. There were cases of mounted men galloping into action within comparatively short rifle range. The artillery had targets which could be seen over the gun sights. The fighting was watched by many Bedouin, some of whom actually tended their herds between our'firing line and the enemy's trenches, either ignorant of their peril or submitting their fate to Allah. There was freshness in the scene for our troops, whose eyes, lone used to the desert glare, welcomed the rolling glare of the cultivated country round Rafa, All the wounded, including a large number of Turks, were sent away by the following morning, when the enemy's material and much arms and ammunition were collected and brought in. An official British report says :—The total captures made by our troops at Rafa on January 9 are as follows:-' Prisoners, 1602; Krupp mountain guns, four; machine-guns, seven; rifles, 1600; small-arms ammunition, rounds, 45,000; camels, 83; horses and mules, 58; camel and pack saddles, 134; also a large quantity of miscellaneous equipment.